Advanced Television

Mediaset partners Google, RAI plans SVoD

October 22, 2015

From Branislav Pekic in Rome

Italian broadcasting group Mediaset has announced it has reached a partnership agreement with Google/YouTube. The deal opens up new prospects for relations between the two companies and at the same time brings to an end nearly eight years of legal disputes.

The agreement is aimed at developing the digital presence of Mediaset’s content in through a partnership with YouTube and Google Play. The deal also includes a joint strategy for content protection in order to ensure copyright protection.

The move settles a dispute dating back to 2008, when Mediaset sued Google for €800 million because it allowed YouTube users to upload over 65,000 video clips of content belonging to the Italian broadcaster on the video sharing site.

Meanwhile, Italian public broadcaster RAI is considering the launch of a SVoD offer, similar to existing platforms in Italy such as Netflix, Infinity (Mediaset), Sky Online (Sky Italia), TIM Vision (Telecom Italia) and Chili TV.

According to a report in local daily La Repubblica, the video platform would be available on smartphones, tablets and Connected TVs and Italians would have to pay a modest monthly subscription fee to access the content. However, in order for RAI to enter the pay/subscription market, the Italian Parliament would previously need to approve regulations that authorise the operation.

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